Pneumatic-despatch apparatus.



PATENTED MAR. 27, 1906.

F. S. SMITH. PNEUMATIC DESPATGH APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23. 1905.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR: ww/zw m yw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN S. SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PNEUMATlC-DESPATCH APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 2 7, 1906'.

Application filed June 28. 1905- Serial N0. 267,404-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN S. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of pneumatic despatch apparatus, and it has for its specific object the provision of an improvement 1n the means by which a valve or other obstruction extending across a discharge opening provided in such an apparatus is prevented from being opened, or is permitted to be opened by the impact of a carrier passing through the apparatus, to prevent or to permit, as desired, the discharge of the said carrier from the said apparatus.

By the employment of my improvement for the purpose just specified, I am enabled to continue the curvature of the terminal portions of the passageway of the apparatus at the sub-stations to points including and beyond the discharge opening of the terminal, and thus decrease the length and consequently the amount of material constituting the terminal.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, I have illustrated a convenient form of embodiment of my invention, though it will be understood that varivalve being shown in section, and also showing one form of carrier in transit through the said terminal.

Figure III is a view similar to figure II, showing another form of carrier which is adapted to be discharged from the terminal.

Figure IV is a view of a portion of the terminal shown at the right hand side of figure I, a part of the said terminal being removed to show the mechanism of the said terminal more clearly, and showing an arrangement of catch different from thatshown in figures II and III, and showing also in dotted lines one form of carrier after it has passed beyond the discharge opening of the said terminal, and showing another form of carrier in full lines, which is adapted to'be discharged from said terminal.

In the form of apparatus illustrated, the passage or transit of the carriers through the despatch tube of the apparatus is occasioned by the creation of a vacuum in the said tube in frontof the carrier, though it is to be understood that my invention is equally applicable to a construction in which the carriers are propelled or forced through the despatch tube in any other suitable manner.

Referring to the drawings,

1 designates an open-ended section of a despatch tube through which the carriers are forwarded from the central station of the apparatus. This tube is connected at one end to a sub-station terminal 2, which terminal is connected to a second sub-station terminal 3 by a section 4 of the despatch tube. these sub-station terminals, as will be observed, is of substantially the same construction.

The sub-station terminals are curved so that each of them constitutes the greater portion of a complete circle. Referring to the terminal 2, it will be seen that it begins to curve at the point of connection of the same Each of and the end of the section 1 of the despatch tube, and that such curvature continues to a point which is adjacent to the end of the section 1 of the despatch tube, which is connected to the said terminal, such point being beyond the discharge opening 5 of the terminal. At this point, the-terminal is provided with a portion 6, which is substantially parallel with an adjacent part of the. end portion of the section 1 of the despatch tube, which is connected to the said terminal.

The section 6 of the said terminal constitutes the end portion thereof, which is con- :00

respects similar to that of the first terminal, 10 5 as has been stated previously.

As illustrated in the drawings, each of the terminals consists of two sections or halves,

which are semi-circular in cross section, and

which are adapted to be secured together by means of screws (not shown), which are adapted to engage the ears or projections 8,

When the two sections of a terminal are,

the plate or strip 13 so that when the forward joined in this manner, it will be understood end of the said carrier strikes the same plate that in cross section such terminal is of circuor strip (which in the construction shown lar outline. While I have illustrated the te:- forms a part of the valve for closing the disminals as being constructed of two sections, charge openings) it will open the same and 70 as described, I do not desire to be limited to will issue from the said terminal through the such manner of construction, as it may be discharge opening. found convenient and desirable to construct In figure I, within sub station terminal the terminal in some other manner, as, for in- 2 in figure II, and also in figure IV, I have stance, by casting, or otherwise forming or shown a carrier 23 of a construction similar 75 producing the same of a single, integral piece to that of the carrier 21 except that it is proof material. vided' with projections 24 upon its opposite For the purpose of eitherpe mitting or preends, the said projections being of less diamventing the discharge of a carrier through the eter than the enlargements or heads 25. The discharge openings of the terminals 2 and 3, I purpose of providing these projections is to 80 have provided a device which extends across prevent the carrier 23 from engaging with the said discharge opening, such device operthe projection or finger 20 to disengage the ating in the manner hereinafter set forth. catch 15 from the outer end of the plate or As illustrated, the said device consists of a strip 13. This is effected by reason of the valve which is hinged at 11.,and which is profact that during the passage of a carrier 23 8 5 vided with a spring or other suitable means through a terminal provided with a catch of (not shown) for the purpose of holding it in the construction of the catch 15, shown in closed position. The said valve consists of figures II and III, the projection 24 upon the the outer plate member 12, the inner plate or forward end of such carrier will strike the strip 13, and the intermediate member 14, of plate or strip 13, whereby the forward end of leather or other suitable material, which is the said carrier will be deflected so that the adapted to rest upon the outer'edges of the enlargement or head 25 thereof would not discharge openings to close the same. come into contact with the projection or fin- The sub-station terminal 3, illustrated in ger 20 to disengage the catch from the said the enlarged views figures II and III, is proplate or strip 13. The carrier 23 not being 5 vided with a catch 15 which is pivoted at 16 adapted to disengage the catch 15 from the upon a pivot which is supported upon what plate or strip 13, it is evident that the dismay be termed a hollow projection 17 formed charge opening would not be opened and that upon the side of the sub-station terminal 3. such carrier would be carried forward beyond Normally, the catch 15 is in engagement such terminal. 100 with the outer end of the plate or strip 13, as The terminal 2 shown at the right hand is clearly shown in figure II of the drawings, side of figure I and illustrated in enlarged and it is held in this position by the weight or view in figure IV, is provided with a catch weighted end 18, which, in the drawings, is mechanism of different construction from shown as being integral with the said catch. that shown in figures II and III. In the con- 10 5 It will be understood, however, that the catch struction of catch mechanism shown in figure may be held in normal engagement with the IV, the catch extends or is bent in a direction said strip by any other suitable means. opposite to that of-the catch shown in figures 2O designates a projection or finger which II and III and normally is not engaged with extends out from said catch into the passagethe plate or strip 13. It is adapted, however, I 1 0 way of the terminal and is adapted to be ento engage the outer or upper edge of an opengaged by a carrier of the construction of the ing 30 extending through the upper end of carrier 21, shown in figures I and III, which the said plate or strip. carrier is provided with heads or enlarge- Upon inspection of Figure IV, it will be ments 22 at its opposite ends, in the usual seen that this form of catch mechanism is 115 manner. adapted to permit the escape or discharge of It will be observed that the projection or a carrier having the construction of the carfinger is but slightly separated from the rier 23. During the passage of a carrier of upper surface of the end portion of the plate this construction through a terminal pro or strip 13, but this separation is suflicient to vided with catch mechanism such as is shown 1 2c permit pivotal movement of the catch 15, to in Figure IV, the projection 24 upon the fordisengage the same from the end of the said ward end of the said carrier strikes the plate strip when it is engaged by the end of a caror strip 13 and moves the same about its rier like the carrier 21 shown in figure III. pivot so as to bring the same out of position When a carrier 21 is passing through a terto be engaged by the catch 29 when it is 125 minal provided with a catch mechanism like moved about its pivot by reason of the enthat shown in figures II and III, the forward gagement of the projection or finger 20 thereend of the same will strike the projection or of by the head of the carrier 23 as it passes finger 20 and will occasion the disengagethrough the discharge opening 5. ment of the catch 15 from the outer end of In said Figure IV is shown in dotted lines a 1 0 carrier of the same construction as the car rier 21 shown in Figures I and III, which has just passed beyond the discharge opening 5. When a carrier constructed like that of the carrier 21 shown in dotted lines in Figure IV is passing through a terminal provided with catch mechanism like that shown in Figure 1V, it will be understood that the enlargement or head upon the forward end of the carrier strikes the projection or finger and moves the catch 29 into engagement with the upper edge of the opening 30 through the plate or strip 13 and thus prevents movement of the said plate or strip to open the dis- [5 charge opening 5 when the forward end of the said carrier comes-into engagement with the said plate or strip. The catch 29 being in engagement with the said plate or strip at the time the forward end of the said carrier comes into contact therewith, such forward end is deflected and the said carrier is compelled to continue its passage through the terminal and-forward to the next or succeeding terminal, which, in the construction illustrated, is provided with a catch mechamsm i wlr ch is adapted to be opened by a carrier of the construction of the said carrier 21, to permitits discharge. 1

In order to limit the pivotal movement of the catches 15 and 29, as a result of the engagement of the projection or finger 20 with the enlargements or heads upon the carriers, the stop 31 is provided which consists of a 7 cross piece extending from side to side of the 5 hollow projection within which the said catches are pivoted. I

The said stop or cross piece in Figure IV also serves the additional purpose of supporting the weight 18 in a proper position.

Referring to Figure I, it w ll be noted that the carrier 21, after having been inserted in the section 1 of the despatch tube, has passed from the same through the first sub-station terminal 2 and is in the act of being discharged from the second sub-station terminal 3, while the carrier 23 after having been inserted in section 1 of the, discharge tube has just reached the discharge opening 5 of the first sub-station terminal 2 where it will be dis charged.

In order to return the carriers from the sub-stations to the central station, they are inserted into the despatch tube through the openings 32 closed by the valves 33. The middle sub-station terminal 3 is connected to the central sub-station of the apparatus by means of the section of tube 35, shown in Figure I.

The subject matter disclosed but not claimed in this application is claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 267 ,403.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A pneumatic despatch apparatus com- 6 5 prising a terminal having a discharge opening, a device which extends across the said opening andv which device is normally in a closed position, a pivoted catch normally in engagement with the said device, and means integral with the said catch which extends therefrom into the interior or passageway of the said terminal, and a carrier provided with a head upon its end which is adapted toengage the said means to occasion disengagement of the catch from the said device to permit the latter to be opened by the impact of the said carrier.

2. A pneumatic despatch apparatus comprising a terminal having a discharge opening, a device extending across the said opening, the said device being normally in a closed position, a pivoted catch normally in engagement with the said device, means extending from the said catch into the interior or passageway of the said terminal, a carrier provided with a head upon its end which is adapted to engage the said means and occasion disengagement of the catch from the said device to permit the same to, be opened by the impact of the said carrier, and a second carrier provided with a projection upon its end which is adapted to strike the device extending across the said discharge opening whereby the said second carrier is adapted to be deflected so that the front portion or end thereof adjacent to the said projection is prevented from coming into engagement with the said means to occasion disengagement of the said catch from the said device.

3. A pneumatic despatch apparatus comprising a terminal having a discharge opening, a device extending across the said opening, the' said device being normally. in a closed position, a pivoted catch normally in engagement with the said device, means extending'from the said catch into the interior or passageway of the said terminal, a carrier provided with a head orenlargement upon its end which is adapted to engage the said -means and occasion disengagement of the catch from the said device to permit the same to be opened by the impact of the said carrier, and a second carrier provided with a head or enlargement upon one end, and a projection, of less diameter than the said head or enlargement, which is adapted to strike the said device extending across the said discharge opening, whereby deflection of the front or forward end of the said carrier is occasioned to prevent the said head or enlargement from engagingwith the said means to disengage the said catch from the said device.

4. A pneumatic despatch apparatus comprising a terminal having a discharge opening, a device extending across the said discharge opening to close the same, a catch, means for normally holding the said catch in engagement with the said device, a projection or finger integral with the said catch and which extends therefrom into the interior of the said terminal, the said projection or finger being adapted to be engaged by a carrier as it approaches the said. discharge opening, whereby the said catch is disengaged from the said device to perm t the latter to be opened by the impact of the said carrier.

5. A pneumatic despatch apparatus-comprising a terminal having a discharge opening, a device extending across the said discharge opening to close the same, a-catch, a weight connected with the said catch to hold the catch normally in engagement with'the said device, a projection or finger extending from the said catch into the interior of the said terminal, the said projection or finger being adapted to be engaged by a carrier as it approaches the said discharge opening,whereby the said catch is disengaged from the said device to permit the same to be opened by the impact of the said carrier.

6. A pneumatic despatch apparatus cornprising a plurality of terminals, each of which is provided with a discharge opening, devices extending across the said openings to close the same, a catch which is normally out of engagement with one of the said devices, and a second catch which is normallyin engagement with the other of said devices, each of the said catches being provided with a projection or finger which extends directly therefrom into the interiors or passageways of said terminals, each of the said fingers or projections being adapted to be engaged by the forward end of a carrier as it approaches the said discharge opening, whereby the first named catch is adapted to be moved into engagement with the closing device with which it is associated, the second catch being adapted to be disengaged from the closing device with which it is associated.

7. A pneumatic despatch apparatus comprising a plurality of terminals, each of which is provided with a discharge opening, devices extending across the said discharge openings to close the same, catches adapted to engage the said devices to prevent the same from being opened, one of the said catches being nor mally out ofengagement with its associated device, and the other of said catches being normally in engagement with its associated device, a projection or finger extending from each of the said catches into the interior of the said terminals, carriers adapted to travel through the said despatch apparatus, one of the said carriers being provided with heads or enlargements upon its ends, the other of said carriers being provided with projections which are of greater length than the distances between the ends of the fingers which extendinto the interiors of the terminals and the inner surface of the closing devices and which projections are of less diameter than the adjacent portions of the carrier, the front or forward end of the first of the said carriers being adapted to engage the projection or finger of the first named catch to occasion movement of the same to engage its associated device, and the said carrier being adapted to engage the projection or finger of the second. catch to occasion the disengagement of the same from its associated device, and a projection of the second named carrier adapted to strike the device for closing the discharge openings whereby if the catch which is associated with a device is disengaged therefrom, the said device will be opened, and whereby if the said device is engaged by its associated catch, the forward-end of the said carrier will be deflected so as to prevent engagement of the same with the finger of the said catch.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing-as my invention I have hereunto signed my name this 22d day of June, A. D. 1905.

FRANKLIN S. SMITH.

In-presence of S. SALoME BROOKE, CYRUS N. ANDERSON 

